Tour de Zwift 2026 begins today, and thousands of riders are joining each event! (I just rode in the kickoff event, in fact, and there were over 1,100 riders in my event!)
It’s Zwift’s biggest series of the year, and the beauty of these popular events is that you can complete each stage at whatever pace you’d like. Whether you’re pushing yourself to the limit or just doing an easy zone 2 effort, everyone’s welcome, and no one rides alone.
Read all about Tour de Zwift 2026 here >
There are 6 stages, each lasting a week, and each stage offers three route lengths: long, standard, and short. Ride just one of the route options and you’ll get credit for completing that week’s stage.
But some riders want a bigger challenge, so this year, once again, Zwift is holding “The Ultimate Challenge.” Completion requires you to ride all 3 route options on each stage, for a total of 18 route completions. Lots of riders have already begun the challenge by knocking out a stage or two today, the first day of TdZ!
But what does it actually take to complete The Ultimate Challenge, and what special unlocks do you get? Let’d dive in…
Total Distance, Elevation, Etc
I put together a quick table listing each stage’s route, length, elevation, time estimages at 2 and 4 W/kg, and the XP you’ll earn if this is your first time finishing the route (read more about route badges):
| Route | Length (km) | Elevation (m) | Time @ 2 W/kg | Time @ 4 W/kg | Badge XP |
| Stage 1 | |||||
| Shisa Shakedown | 53.3 | 557 | 112 | 81 | 985 |
| Chasing the Sun | 35.1 | 316 | 70 | 52 | 690 |
| Turf N Surf | 24.7 | 198 | 48 | 36 | 490 |
| 113.1 | 1071 | 230 | 169 | 2165 | |
| Stage 2 | |||||
| Knights of the Roundabout | 54.4 | 359 | 103 | 77 | 1025 |
| Three Musketeers | 37.8 | 193 | 70 | 52 | 705 |
| Hell of the North | 20.1 | 241 | 46 | 32 | 395 |
| 112.3 | 708 | 219 | 161 | 2125 | |
| Stage 3 | |||||
| Innsbruck After Party | 37.1 | 657 | 100 | 66 | 740 |
| Yorkshire Double Loops | 29.6 | 547 | 73 | 51 | 580 |
| BRAE-k Fast Crits & Grits | 22.1 | 243 | 47 | 34 | 415 |
| 88.8 | 1447 | 220 | 151 | 1735 | |
| Stage 4 | |||||
| Triple Loops | 41.4 | 569 | 92 | 65 | 810 |
| Greatest London Flat | 31.1 | 223 | 61 | 45 | 500 |
| London 8 | 20.9 | 223 | 44 | 32 | 410 |
| 93.4 | 1015 | 197 | 142 | 1720 | |
| Stage 5 | |||||
| Tour of Fire and Ice | 28 | 1187 | 126 | 73 | 500 |
| Glyph Heights | 33.9 | 618 | 85 | 58 | 510 |
| Ocean Lava Cliffside Loop | 19.3 | 157 | 38 | 28 | 380 |
| 81.2 | 1962 | 249 | 159 | 1390 | |
| Stage 6 | |||||
| The Greenway | 36.8 | 292 | 72 | 53 | 805 |
| No Sleep Till Brooklyn | 32 | 247 | 62 | 46 | 675 |
| Richmond Rollercoaster | 17 | 169 | 39 | 27 | 100 |
| 85.8 | 708 | 173 | 126 | 1580 | |
| 574.6 km | 6,996 m | 21:28 | 15:08 | 10715 |
So completing The Ultimate Challenge requires you to ride nearly 575 kilometers and climb almost 7,000 meters. That will take you over 21 hours at 2 W/kg, or 15 hours at 4 W/kg.
How To Finish the Challenge
The simplest way to finish the challenge and check your progress is to click the TdZ card on your homescreen, then pick what you’d like to do. All the stages include a card you can click to free ride the route “on demand” by yourself:
In addition, the current week’s stage lists group ride and race events that you can join:
The on-demand option means you don’t have to wait 6 weeks to finish The Ultimate Challenge. In fact, some riders will certainly finish it this week!
Hack #1: TdZ Credit on Non-TdZ Rides
Personally, I think riding in actual TdZ events is far and away the most fun way to finish The Ultimate Challenge. Those big group rides let you push as hard as you want, offering plenty of challenges for those looking to push their limits.
That said, you don’t need to select a route or event from the TdZ picker to receive completion credit. In fact, if you join a non-TdZ event held on a TdZ route, you’ll get credit for completing that part of TdZ as long as you finish the route!
You can also pick routes and free ride them using the standard route picker, the My List tool, or any other method.
Hack #2: Structured Workouts
If you want to complete The Ultimate Challenge, but you also have structured workouts you want to knock out, just pick the route you want to free ride from the TdZ screen, then go Menu>Workouts once you’re riding. From there,you can pick the workout you’d like to ride, while also finishing the route. Just make sure you finish the entire route!
Hack #3: Entry-Level Bike 5% Boost
If you have a fully-upgraded Entry-Level bike in your garage, be sure to use it on the ride where you finish The Ultimate Challenge and get that final 11,000 XP. Entry-Level bikes that are fully upgraded give you an extra 5% XP earnings boost, which turns those 500 XP bonuses into 525 XP, and that 11,000 XP bonus at the end into 11,550!
Related: What is required to fully upgrade a particular bike in Zwift?
Hack #4: Route of the Week
Not exactly a “hack,” but worth a mention nonetheless…
The Route of the Week for January 12-18 is Ocean Lava Cliffside Loop, so if you do an on-demand ride of this route during this week, you’ll get the 500 XP ROTW bonus, plus credit for completing the route/stage for TdZ.
Unlocks
Zwift is giving rides an XP bonus as you progress through the Ultimate Challenge, with a big bonus upon completion!
- 9 Route Bonus: 500 XP
- 12 Route Bonus: 500 XP
- 15 Route Bonus: 500 XP
- 18 Route Bonus: 11,000 XP + Backwards After Party Cap
The Ultimate Giveaway
Additionally, when you finish the Ultimate Challenge, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind TDZ x Pedal Mafia Zwift Ride Smart Frame:
See giveaway Terms & Conditions >
Questions or Comments?
If you have general Tour de Zwift questions, read our main TdZ post for details.
Got Ultimate Challenge questions or comments? Share below!
Looks like they have learned from earlier events. Almost no routes which have a big lead in you can skip with a meetup.
I love that the Ultimate Challenge is 799.2 kms and it takes 800km to fully upgrade a distance entry level bike…like the Atomic Cruiser. I have yet to upgrade any entry level bikes because I’m focused on the bikes I use for ZRL.
I’ve always wondered. If you zig zag throughout those 799.2kms, could you gain additional distance to get to 800+ kms? Not sure if Zwift adds in the extra little distance.
I bet @Eric Schlange knows!
Yes, you can add distance by zig zagging. You can also shorten the distance by cutting corners!
Oops… my math was wrong. It’s actually 574.6 km!
That’s not an error in my favor! I think. Thanks?
Do Traineroad structured workouts count as well?
They’re just a workout, so yes. Just follow the instructions given above.
I love Zwift Insider, keep up the amazing work!!
Thanks Jeff!
Looking for a bit more clarity on the “XP Hack”
Do you have to ride the entire ride with the fully upgraded entry level bike or just finish the ride with it?
Also,
Can you use this Hack on each XP Bonus level?
Thanks
Just finish the ride with it.
Yes, you should be able to use that hack any time you’re getting XP.
This is great, I’m trying to fully upgrade the Z1, 400 km’s into L2 upgrade, so I can ride this up until the last km on the 18th route, then swap to a ZWIFT carbon, fully upgraded and bag all the bouns XP, yay!
“Whether you’re pushing yourself to the limit or just doing an easy zone 2 effort, everyone’s welcome, and no one rides alone.”
I wish this was true for me. For the group rides I’ve done, I’m peddling alone after 20 min, bringing up the rear. I remember a group ride that was 2 laps of Watopia’s Waistband. I was lapped just before completing the first lap. Those riders finished the two laps before I did one. That second lap was so lonely. I’m very happy that these stage rides can be done “on demand” so I can ride amongst others in a normal Zwift atmosphere.
Which bikes are considered entry level?
List at the bottom of the linked post: https://zwiftinsider.com/bike-upgrade-details/
Cannondale CAAD12
Cannondale Synapse
Canyon Inflite
Chapter2 Tere
Parless ESX
Ribble Endurance
Specialized Allez
Specialized Amira
Specialized Ruby
Trek Emonda SL
Zwift Aero
Zwift Atomic Cruiser
Zwift BMX Bandit
Zwift Buffalo Fahrrad
Zwift Carbon
Zwift Gravel
Zwift Handcycle
Zwift Mountain
Zwift Safety
Zwift Steel
Zwift TT
Love the entry level XP tip, totally forgot about that benefit. I’d never seen a single ride with such high XP for completion so crossing the finish line on my L5 atomic cruiser for extra 500XP would be sweet. Of course I’m also stuck at level 100 and since we no longer get to bank excess XP those points will just wind up getting converted to more coins. Maybe Zwift could roll out something like airlines do with miles and let us use coins to buy “bonus miles” which can be used towards halo bike upgrade progress 😁
After reaching level 100, you continue to accumulate XP!
Where did you get the idea that you don’t accumulate XP?
You continue to accumulate XP, and every 20,000 XP (as was the case between levels 99 and 100), you jump to the next level, except that level 100 is displayed.
It has always been this way. When new levels are introduced, you will have so-called “accelerated promotion” depending on how much XP you have accumulated above level 100.
Until now, it was 40 XP for each km up to a certain level (double/triple arrows on the activity summary screen).
regards
Artur
It is not possible to use TT bike for the group rides.
Can I use TT bike for on demand ride? Will I get the credit for the route completed in such case? I know that I will have no draft but I’d like to gather some riding time for upgrade.
When you do the on-demand ride: Yes, you should be able to chose whichever frame you want to level up.
You can use a TT bike, but the app will warn you about not getting any draft benefit from the group. It’s a warning, and you can decline the option to switch to a bike with draft.
If you select a TT bike in your garage for any event that doesn’t allow TT frames, usually you will be given the Zwift Steel instead. However, the ride time in that event will count towards upgrade stage time for your TT frame!
What I don’t know is in the above case, does your Steel frame ride with any performance upgrade stages you have done for it, or is it a base Steel?
Hi, I did read this info some time ago but It does not work as described. Or not in all cases. I was given the Zwift steel instead of my TT bike but no time did count towards the TT and km did count for the Zwift steel bike. I had this experince in spring during some similar action so I was afraid how it really works and I checked it carefully yesterday. Unfortunatelly.
This should be easy to test with a level 5 steel frame: do you get extra 32 or 33 XP each mile?
Am I able to do week 2 or week 6 routes in week 1 and count towards the ultimate achievement? I want to knock the routes off as soon as possible
Yes!
I’m waiting for the downvotes to come in (I had it coming really ;)): There is a way to shorten the distance SIGNIFICANTLY: Late join. You can late join any TdZ ride by half an hour. Now there is no guarantee that you will get spawned close to the front but you will cover some significant distance … on the flat you’d cut out about 17-18km on average I’d reckon. On 18 stages this would come out at about a 300km saving on the 575km target.
This, sir, would be the very definition of a “hollow achievement.”
Agreed. So then why does Zwift allow it? To achieve “The Ultimate Challenge” they should not count any rides where there was late join or a coffee break.
And turn of steering and draft I presume ? And let us all be put on a Buffalo Bike so no one has an advantage due to their frame and wheels …
I wouldn’t downvote someone who is trying to help, but if you don’t want to ride the distance, why bother at all?
For the exceptional beautiful backwards cap I guess 😉
This is exacly why I want the option to start from the pen in case of a later join.
Sometimes live gets in the way and I have to late start. I don’t want to be spawned anywhere, I want to ride the full distance.
So please give us the option to start from the penn!
@eric Schlange Another “hack” – you enter the TdZ event and ride it whenever you want. Just need to leave Zwift open and you ride it solo then.
But why, when you can do the routes on demand anyway? Seems like more “hassle” than “hack”! 😜
Is it only entry level bikes or all level 5 bikes that get the bonus?
Only a fully upgraded entry level bike. For those the upgrades are:
Lvl 1 – Aero upgrade
Lvl 2 – Weight upgrade
Lvl 3 – Drivetrain upgrade
Lvl 4 – Improved Drops (+5%)
Lvl 5 – Improved XP (+5%)
For mid level it is:
Lvl 1 – Aero upgrade
Lvl 2 – Weight upgrade
Lvl 3 – Drivetrain upgrade
Lvl 4 – Aero upgrade
Lvl 5 – Improved Drops (+5%)
So with a fully upgraded mid level bike you’d still benefit from the drop improvement.
For all others it is:
Lvl 1 – Aero upgrade
Lvl 2 – Weight upgrade
Lvl 3 – Drivetrain upgrade
Lvl 4 – Aero upgrade
Lvl 5 – Weight upgrade
I.e. exclusively performance enhancement but no improvements to drops or XP
Wait, what? You get an 11,000xp bonus for completing all 18 routes? Or that’s the cumulative xp for route badges and distances?
That’s the bonus you get for completing The Ultimate Challenge.
And 50,000 drops
50,000 Drops is the bonus you get each time you level up.
Oh yes sorry you right Eric, it happened same time when i level up
Will the race events count towards the Ultimate Challenge as well?
Yes.
Whether it’s a tip or trick, late starting will certainly save you some Ks and time.
Tried Hack #2 (workout hack) and it didn’t work. After the ride started I went to the menu and tried to select the workout button but it was greyed out.
I’ll bet you accidentally started one of the Group Ride and not a free ride.
I think this is correct. I can confirm I did a 1.5 hour workout in the long ride of stage 1 and got credit after I was done – it was a solo effort and not a group event.
For hack #2 seems like you could also pick your structured workout and then choose the correct world and route to ride?
Yes, you can!
Thanks Eric and other riders, all your tipps (workouts, free rides and non-TdZ-rides etc.) work fine. So for a hobby rider like me (2-3 workouts/week + some TdZ + some non-TdZ group rides) the ultimate challenge is a nice add-on. Thank you.
If you are doing a regular ride on a maxed out entry level bike and you get the 250xp power up, does that get the 5% bonus?
Supposedly yes!
If I read this correctly, anyone who does the Ocean Lava Cliffside Loop as the route of the week (week of January 12) will automatically get credit for the stage 5 short route.
Does a race contribute to completion of a stage?
Example: For Stage 1, I ride the long and medium route as a group event, and ride the short route as a race, is that considered as all three routes of Stage 1 done and added to the Ultimate Challenge?
Yes. ANY completion of one of the routes counts. Free ride it, do it in any sort of event… it all counts.
The challenge section on companion is useful – would also be useful to access the other actual challenges like Italy, California, Everest in the same way.
A bit off topic but similarly seeing the actual XP required to next level in companion and without needing to be “in-game” would be better UX too perhaps
Does it still count as completing the ultimate challenge if I do one or a few routes outside of the week they were assigned to, or in the make-up week?
Eric said: ANY completion of one of the routes counts.
Will i get the route completion foe the event by doing it with creating a friend meetup?my friend isnt as fast or fit as i am
Eric said: ANY completion of one of the routes counts.
Regarding the Giveaway:
“…located in 50 United States/District of Columbia, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Japan, or The United Kingdom.”
That’s seriously lame, Zwift. 😕
Very disappointed to see that I can’t enter the giveaway as I’m living in Denmark.
ELIGIBILITY: The Promotion is open to individuals who are 18 years of age or older or age and the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence as of date of entry and are located in 50 United States/District of Columbia, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Japan, or The United Kingdom
Zwift can’t legally offer it in Denmark with these terms because of Danish law.
I managed to complete 18/18 today and was rewarded with 13,238 XRP points. Made up of completing the last route, switching to zwift steel frame level 5 (500 mtr from finish) and finishing the route on that, whilst riding a 57 minute custom work out and completing it before the end of the route.
Day 1 = 3 routes
Day 2 = 3 routes
Day 3 = 3 routes
Day 4 = 3 routes
Day 5 = 4 routes
Day 6 = 2 routes
Impressive. That’s quite a week!
Nice work. I’ll have 8 of 18 ticked off tomorrow morning, but now I see I’ve been slacking.
I’ve only done 4. Gotta pick up the pace!
I’ve been for an easy 55 km spin with C Coco this afternoon, not seen any other “ultimate reward – backwards cap” in the blob!
for the running events – while it’s clear enough that on demand doesn’t count, would creating a meetup count?
I highly doubt it.
Are there coffee breaks available in tour de zwift 2026
On the group rides, yes. For races, no.
Hi Eric,
Sounds like I can combine this week’s ROTA with tdZ stage (Ocean Lava Cliffside Loop) into just 1 ride and get xp bonus as well as the tdZ stage completion?
Absolutely!
Thanks Eric!
But we have until Feb 22 to complete, yes? Sounds doable with a 5 week window
Here’s the total amount of XP up for grabs for completing the TdZ 2026 Ultimate Challenge on a maximum upgraded (Stage 5) entry level bike, and adding in Eric’s “Hack #4” in the article above:
11000 XP (for completion of the TDZUC) + 1500 XP (bonus for completion of 6/9/12 rides) + 550 XP (5% XP bonus entry level bike for completion of TDZUC) + 75 XP (5% XP bonus entry level bike for 6/9/12 rides) + 500 XP (Hack #4 ROTW Challenge bonus) = 13625 XP!
That is *huge*, especially if you are a newbie to Zwift – that will bring you from Level 1 to Level 11 almost instantly! For myself, as a Level 100 rider, that still is significant as that is 68% of the 20K XP I needed to tick my XP counter over for the 50K drop point bonus! Very helpful indeed now that I am moving on to upgrading my Tron bike – save up those drop points!
That’s not counting badge xp for each of the routes if a first-time rider
+ the 11480XP for completing the total distance covered over the event
Isn’t the distance on Greatest London Flat wrong? Zwift says its 24.1k
Also the elevation on this and London 8 seems off…
Nope, Greatest London Flat is correct. If Zwift says 24.1k that means they’ve left off the lead-in (which is over 7km). See https://zwiftinsider.com/route/greatest-london-flat/
Just checked and the London 8 numbers are correct as well.
Okay, thats weird, because i just rode it from the TdZ screen and got the Trophy after 24.1k. Have they somehow shortened the lead-in?
I bet Zwift somehow programmed it in their quests/achievements system to give you the TDZ achievement after 24.1km on the route, because whoever programmed it wasn’t looking at the lead-in. Error on their side.
@Eric Schlange For the ultimate challenge…if I’m going for the 9 route bonus, do I get credit if I ride stage 1 C 9 times or do I have to ride 9 unique routes? I’m assuming its unique but want to make sure! Thanks
Nope… you only get credit for each route once. So you’ll have to write 9 different routes to get the 9 route bonus.
@eric Schlange Any idea if anyone actually won the Zwift Ride frame? The winner was supposed to be emailed about a month ago, so I guess it wasn’t me, but Zwift also said they’d post the winner up on their website (which they haven’t)!
No idea… typically I don’t see Zwift sharing who won.